This paper explores diversity, discrimination and oppression through the lens of transracial adoption. It is a controversial issue, some advocating that it further oppresses minorities by removing the children from their ethnic and cultural context, and some opining that transracial adoption helps children and families transcend race. These materials and discussion will be a look at how institutional biases affect the legal environment, including statutes, the courts and the implementation of transracial adoption by the legal system and social service agencies. The practice in Rural versus Urban Areas will be explored, as well as issues such as the perceived importance of contact with role models of the same ethnicity. What are the issues regarding adoption with different cultures? Differences related to child’s age at the time of adoption an where they were before? Is there discrimination on white families adopting black children? Exploring and overcoming the social stigma through explaining differences to the child, school, friends, etc., determining who to tell, and whether to say the child is adopted or not? What are the largest most detrimental stigmas? Who suffers from them? Are there research differences between different cultures & stigma. How do culture wide institutional biases affect the legal environment of transracial adoption and the implication and affect to statutes & social service agency policies and regulations. We will also explore the potential social impact on both child and family while discussing sibling issues related to wanting/not wanting this to happen and bonding issues.
While doing the research, it was discovered that many people had well stated the issues, and therefore quotes are liberally used throughout.
OUTLINE OF THIS PRESENTATION
Introductions:
Quick audience polls
Questions are welcome during the presentation to clarify points
Why we are here: friends road trip and tax write-off
State that opinions may differ – not a debate
Importance of hearing the law from experts to get accurate info. Why Susan is here.
Iii. Brief history of ta and adoption in general
1. Perpetuate racism in the past
2. NABSW statement: what does it mean? Pros/cons
Legal issues:
1. Law and Policy
2. Government point of view
Societal issues:
1. Oppression vs. Inclusion
VI: Social Worker Role
What can we do?
Vii. Wrap up and questions
THE LAW: WHY TRANSRACIAL ADOPTION IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE COMMON OR LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS IN MATCHING
There is overarching federal legislation that guides the matching of children and families. Federal laws addressing transracial adoption are:
THE INDIAN CHILD WELFARE ACT (ICWA).
ICWA regulates the placement of Native American Children. It was implemented with recognition that, in the recent past, most Native American Children were being placed outside tribal communities, thereby reducing the children’s access to language and traditions important to their culture. Under ICWA, in any adoptive placement of an Indian child under State law, a preference shall be given, in the absence of good cause to the contrary, to a placement with
(1) a member of the child’s extended family;
(2) other members of the Indian child’s tribe; or
(3) other Indian families.
This Act remains on the books. Thus only Indian children may be overtly racially matched. The legal theory allowing for this difference is that tribal membership is a political rather than ethnic affiliation. Federally recognized tribes with “Reservations” are actually, as a matter of law Nations, not quite independent, but theoretically sovereign, under the protection of the United States of America. The Federal government can no more dictate what the policy can be regarding “Indian” children than it could Canadian or German children.
THE ADOPTION AND SAFE FAMILIES ACT (ASFA). ASFA supports permanency for children by reducing timeframes for courts and child welfare agencies in working toward permanency outcomes, including adoption, for children in foster care. ASFA prohibits denial or delay of the adoptive placement of a child with the approved adoptive family based on the geographic location of the family.
THE MULTIETHNIC PLACEMENT ACT (MEPA).
In 1994 the U.S. Congress passed the Multi-ethnic Placement Act, (hereafter MEPA) forbidding a federally funded agency from denying placement of a child solely because of race or national origin. It states "discrimination is not to be tolerated." Since that time, the number of transracial adoptions have increased. In 1987 about 8% of all adoptions included parents and children of different races. By 1998 about 15% of the 36,000 adoptions of foster children in the U.S. were transracial or transcultural. The U.S. census of 2000 reported that 13% of adopted children under 18 were of a different race than the head of household. When breaking gown the numbers, 5% were Asian, 6% other/multiracial, 1% American Indian, and 1% black. Although these numbers are encouraging, there is still room for improvement. MEPA was enacted in 1994 and amended by the Interethnic Placement Provision of the Small Business Job Protection Act in 1996 to eliminate discriminatory practices that denied children permanency and discouraged applicants
From becoming foster and adoptive parents. The law contains three major tenets:
• An agency or individual cannot delay or deny a child’s placement for foster care or adoption
solely on the basis of race, color or national origin.
• An agency or individual cannot deny a person the opportunity to foster or adopt solely on
The basis of race, color or national origin.
• An agency must diligently recruit potential foster and adoptive parents that reflect the
Diversity of children in care.
An important consideration is that culture cannot be used as a proxy for race.
It is clear that the Federal government policy favors transracial adoption as opposed to continued Foster Care for any individual child. The Federal government, through Congress expresses this favoritism through funding mechanisms. It is important to note that agencies not receiving Federal funds are thus in theory not bound by Federal policy. The policy came to be through research that shows that adopted children do better in life that those who age out of foster care with no permanent family. Additional research demonstrated that transracial adoption was not harmful via a long list of potential harms.
TRANSRACIAL ADOPTION AS OPPRESSION
First let us examine the point of view that transracial adoption furthers oppression:
A bit of the history of the oppression argument can be described as follows: The notion of transracial adoption has faced opposition. The argument put forward by some activists and social workers is that transracial adoption leads to assimilation -- the gradual erosion of the cultural identities of black, and other non-majority communities. Many black and Native American leaders doubt that majority/white parents can provide the pride, appreciation of cultural heritage and sense of identity that a child would gain from parents of the same race. A counter argument is that this in itself can be viewed as a form of racism: the assumption that specific races can only parent children of a given race.
There are social workers and others in the field who argue it is better to place children with adoptive parents of their own racial background, rather then with a family of a different race. In some areas today, there are still institutional bias that children are better in foster care for several years then to be placed in a home that is not racially congruent. The assumption in these cases is that unless a child lives with his or her own racial kind, he or she will grow up confused, maladjusted, and unequipped for the trials of life as a member of a visible minority. This is countered by numerous studies which show children who live in multi racial families are as well adjusted by the measures used as children in racially homogenous families.
In the U.S. the debate over transracial parenting is decades old. In 1972 the National Association of Black Social Workers came out favoring same-race adoption, calling the adoption of black children by white parents a "particular form of genocide." for 20 years agencies have steered black children away from white families, saying transracial adoption was culturally inappropriate. With poorer black families unable to adopt, due to what many argue are laws created due to institutional bias against people of color, thousands of black children ended up remaining in foster care. To date this remains the position of this organization.
A LOOK AT HOW INSTITUTIONAL BIASES AFFECT THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING STATUTES, THE COURTS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TRANSRACIAL ADOPTION BY THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES.
The following research quote that we would like to present is MLA cited as: Brettschneider, Marla. Competing Theories and Practices of Power: Analysis of Transracial Adoption in the U.s. Paper Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, and the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pa, Aug 31, 2006, placed online 2006-10-05
“There are multiple hierarchies of human worth operating within this arena. I will focus on the constellation of legislative changes in the mid-1990s which not only turned more women of color into birth mothers (women who have relinquished their parental rights to children who are then legally freed for adoption, but also explicitly gave more white women access to bi-racial children, thereby reducing a child's time in care. Included in the 1996 personal responsibility act (commonly referred to as welfare reform) was a little known provision which expanded transracial adoption options. In the U.S. transracial adoption almost exclusively refers to a case of white adults adopting children of color. This particular piece of legislation can be seen as part of a tri-frontal attack on women of color--through anti-immigration policies, intensified drug criminilization, and welfare cut backs. Here is a rich, albeit extremely troubling, example where women, perceived as a group, and individuals (through progressive efforts to end restrictions on people adopting) were portrayed as winning rights while the rights of specific women and homosexuals racialized as other in the law were being restricted."
RURAL VERSUS URBAN AREAS, INSTITUTIONAL BIAS AND ACTUAL EXPERIENCE
White rural parents, specifically, for one example, the parents of the women on the cover, have been told that since white rural people are bigoted, an upstate rural New York location is not a good environment for transracial adoption. The urban (The Bronx) case worker was oblivious as to the racism in that statement until it was pointed out to her, by the parents, that the assumption that “white rural people” are all anything is a race based bias. This caused the case worker to examine her own assumptions about rural whites. In fact, the family has experienced stranger racism in urban areas when traveling, and none that is obvious in their home area, where there essentially are no strangers. The adoption was allowed to proceed in that case. While urban areas allow for more cultural identity experiences for the adopted child, an urban area may also offer more group affiliation availability for an us versus them mentality towards strangers. This would be as opposed to a small rural setting, where individuals are known by their demonstrated character and actual traits, instead of biased assumed ethnic or cultural traits. Case workers should not operate on the idea that they know how a child will or will not be accepted into a given community, especially if the case worker has little or no acquaintance with that community.
THE PERCEIVED IMPORTANCE OF CONTACT WITH ROLE MODELS OF THE SAME ETHNICITY.
“Gentrification” is normally considered in the urban context. Below, the concept is considered more broadly, as a process rather than just a location. The next quote expresses a similar dissatisfaction or concern about transracial adoption, and is up to the minute, as it was presented February 10, 2008:
The citation is: Ttwila, Transracial Adoption and Gentrification: Commonalities of Power, Discourse, and Race" Paper Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Law and Society, J.W. Marriott Resort, Las Vegas, NV . 2008-02-10.
"Transracial adoption and gentrification ordinarily would not be thought of as related. However, these two phenomena occupy common ground with respect to their impact on the African-American community. Both represent contexts in which African-Americans are increasingly competing with whites for scarce resources. In this competition, African-Americans find themselves at a disadvantage as a result of historical and institutionalized racism. With public discourse in both areas, this serves only to perpetuate racism, not diminish the effects. Society has the power to shape the level of service delivery through action, portraying the reality of scarce resources instead of the fantasy that the laws in and of themselves provided for equality. Although the pollianiac view that we can have a completely as positive steps toward a more integrated, non-racist society. This discourse, in the end, has the effect of romanticizing whites as " pioneers" and denigrating African-Americans. With respect to both areas, evolution of the law toward principles of increased race-neutrality can be seen as facilitating the desires and interests of middle and upper-middle class whites at the expense of African-Americans.”
WHAT ARE THE ISSUES REGARDING ADOPTION WITH DIFFERENT CULTURES? DIFFERENCES RELATED TO CHILD'S AGE AT THE TIME OF ADOPTION AN WHERE THEY WERE BEFORE?
The final anti-transracial adoption point of view is expressed by transracial adoptees, who can be "met" on their website, who consider their adoption nothing less than an abduction. Their site is: http://www.transracialabductees.org/update/archive/00000013.html
The site explains its philosophy and point of view in this way, and is a series of direct quotes:
"why transracial?
We think this word sucks, but we like it better than interracial, interethnic, international, or intercultural. We chose transracial because 1) we think it will help people who are thinking about the racial politics of abduction find this website, 2) "trans" can describe a crossing or transfer from one racial setting to another, and 3) "trans" can be used to talk about a crossing or transfer between groups with unequal status and power. We don't like transracial because it doesn't explicitly suggest racism. What we'd like to say is transracist, but then people probably wouldn't find us.” (Meaning the search engines would not lead people to their web page) The quote continues:
“Abduction” is the word we like better than adoption. "Adoption" conceals the unequal power between abductors and abductees, and in the abduction industry in general.”
There are many thoughtful comments on this site, explaining their position as abductees, anyone at all can post their thoughts. The following is just one lenghthy and thoughtful posting titled: Bridging the Gap Between 'Transracial' and 'International' Adoption, posted by So Yung
"Policymakers, adoption agencies, scholars and media in the U.S. tend to discuss "transracial" and "international" adoption in mutually exclusive terms, and both of these adoption worlds have the habit of ignoring each other. Applying a people of color-centered analysis, however, reveals the shared set of assumptions about race and "the best interests of the child" that underpin policy and practice in both domestic and international transracial adoption. (The following are the common) Race-related assumptions and themes: In discussions of "transracial adoption," the focus is usually on the adoption of African American children by whites. In discussions of "international adoption," adoptions of Asian children by whites dominate. Both are structured in accord with typical assumptions about race in the United States: for those who buy into the stereotypical biases (yes this can be viewed as racism), white Americans are perceived as being on top of the hierarchy, perpetuating the view that African Americans are the opposite "with a Asians being viewed as closest to white individuals. The idea of African American children being incorporated into white families provokes a strong reaction, whereas Asian adoption becoming is considered a better, more normative alternative. Nevertheless, Asians, still America's #1 foreigners, gain the most visibility in the international adoption scene, while this information is meant to open discussion, not judge those who would only adopt from certain races. For the purposes of this information, the main focus is on African American and biracial children as social workers in this field tend to deal with this population on a more frequent basis. "Black and bi-racial concerns continue to be raised that rigid borderlines and colorlines are reinforced at the same time that countless studies use assimilation as a key factor in the ability of individual children of color to adjust to their adoptive families.”
POLICY DEBATES (CULTURE WIDE INSTITUTIONAL BIASES AFFECT THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT OF TRANSRACIAL ADOPTION AND THE IMPLICATION AND AFFECT TO STATUTES & SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY POLICIES AND REGULATIONS)
“Advocates of transracial adoption in the U.S. raise the image of multitudes of children of color "languishing in foster care." they talk about the high costs of maintaining children in foster care and accuse critics who object to racism in the child welfare system of privileging adult interests over the immediate needs of children. Similarly, advocates of international adoption dismiss objections based on the unequal relationship between sending and receiving countries as representing adult interests. Typical stories from individuals who have adopted international children of color include a note about the high costs associated with inter-country adoption, which they attribute to the inefficiency and corruption of foreign agencies and governments. (advocates of transracial adoption in the U.S. do not attribute the high costs associated with the foster care system to the inefficiency and corruption of the United States government.)
Those who promote international adoption argue that children around the world are "languishing in orphanages" and that international law requiring the consideration of ethnicity, culture and language in the selection of adoptive parents (such as the Un Convention on the Rights of the Child) merely creates unnecessary barriers for Americans wishing to adopt foreign children. In the U.S., advocates of transracial adoption and foster placements lobbied (successfully) for the passage of the multiethnic placement act, which requires agencies receiving federal assistance to institute "colorblind" policies, disallowing any consideration of race, color, or national origin when placing children with parents. Critics of inter-country adoption point out that Americans' increasing demands for adoptable children puts strong pressure on foreign governments to favor international adoption over in-country placements despite this growing pressure to cater to potential American parents, opponents of transracial adoption in the United States....argue that whites' demands that they have access to children of color are the driving force behind this "colorblind" legislation. (A strong analysis of racism in child welfare policies includes an understanding that, ultimately, transracial adoption does nothing to reduce the number of children of color in foster care or orphanages, because it does nothing to address the root causes of those children's presence in the system in the first place. As long as transracial and inter-country adoption are promoted over policies that address the adverse effects of racism, economic oppression, and U.S. militarism on communities of color, children of color will continue to "languish" in numbers disproportionate to their white counterparts, both in the United States and abroad.”
ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT PARENTING ALSO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THIS DISCUSSION.
“Arguments against transracial adoption can be in part viewed on an assumption that people of color are not capable to providing stable and healthy homes. In reality, race does not dictate an individual's ability to keep families stable and healthy, however as long as this is an accepted viewpoint in any arena, the discussion of trans-racial adoption will continue to be one fraught with debate and in some cases anger. But this doesn't affect their inherent ability to be good parents to children of all races. Similarly, in debates over international adoption, children's availability for adoption is viewed as proof of their birth parents' incompetence, while Americans are assumed to be capable of parenting children of any national origin. In the United States, children of color who are transracially adopted and/or fostered typically move from poor and low-income households to middle- and upper-class settings. In the international adoption industry, this is also the case. A significant imbalance in economic and military power exists between sending and receiving countries, with Americans often reporting that the more money they were willing to spend, the faster the adoption process was completed.”
IS THERE DISCRIMINATION ON WHITE FAMILIES ADOPTING BLACK CHILDREN? EXPLORING AND OVERCOMING THE SOCIAL STIGMA THROUGH EXPLAINING DIFFERENCES TO THE CHILD, SCHOOL, FRIENDS, ETC., DETERMINING WHO TO TELL, AND WHETHER TO SAY THE CHILD IS ADOPTED OR NOT? WHAT ARE THE LARGEST MOST DETRIMENTAL STIGMAS? WHO SUFFERS FROM THEM?
Continuing So Yung’s post:
PRIMACY OF THE ADULTS' PERSPECTIVES
“Weird cultures have grown up around transracial and international adoption, mostly driven by adoptive parents who want to share stories, tips, and a sense of community with other adoptive parents. Of course, it's framed to appear as if this meets the needs of the adopted children. Articles in glossy adoption and family magazines focus on the hardships and discrimination faced by white adults struggling to raise transracially adopted children. Individuals who have adopted children of color, whether internationally or domestically, talk about taking on the important responsibility of transmitting the adopted child's birth culture to the child. Parents participate in activities such as starting to celebrate Kwanzaa, Chinese new year, and Cinco De Mayo for the sake of their adopted children are commended for their bravery and determination. Both "transracial" and "international" adoption cultures are centered around satisfying the strange desires of white grown-ups. This deviates from the thought that all placements should be in the best interests of the child, not the parents.”
The above was posted by So Yung on February 6, 2003"
THE VIEW THAT TRANSRACIAL ADOPTION IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILDREN
A) MORE ABOUT THE WOMEN IN THE COVER PICTURE
One has multiple graduate degrees and is in the workforce, a second has a Master’s Degree and is working on her Ph.D., a third completed her B.A. and is in the workforce, and the remaining two are full time undergraduate students. None have had any known trouble with addiction or the law, most have dated transracially. The two that have had children had them with a same race partner. The family attempts to appreciate all cultures, and once had a “Christmas” celebration with people who were Jewish, Buddist, Muslim, Christian, and Wiccan, including international student friends some of the women brought home from college as overnight guests. The international students all wanted to celebrate the winter holiday with a typical American family. Their Mother has a J.D., and is a white/Native American fundamental Baptist women with eligibility to be a card carrying tribe member in the Onondaga Nation, but whom has chosen not to acquire said card. Their Father has a Ph.D., and is a white Jew. None of the adopted children were adopted as infants, one had been in Foster Care approximately 8 years and lived in at least 3 different foster homes before coming to live with her forever family.
ARE THERE RESEARCH DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DIFFERENT CULTURES & STIGMA?
Research that was completed as far back as in 1993, and continuing to the present suggests that transracial adoption is a viable means of providing stable homes for waiting children. Nearly a dozen studies consistently indicate that approximately 75% of transracially adopted preadolescent and younger children “adjust” well in their adoptive homes (Silverman, 1993)” http://www.internationaladoptionnews.com/family/
In a later 1995 study, transracial adoption was “not found to be detrimental for the adoptee in terms of adjustment, self-esteem, academic achievement, peer relationships, parental and adult relationships” (Sharma, Mcgue, Benson, 1995)” http://www.internationaladoptionnews.com/family/
This tends to undermine the idea that “assimilation” is the sole determinate of success in transracial adoption, though assimilation may be a component of “adjustment.” Another study however suggests caution in these conclusions: Shiao, Jiannbin. And Tuan, Mia. "Shared Fates in Transracial Adoption: Sorting through Differences in Asian-White Families" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, Marriott Hotel, Loews Philadelphia Hotel, Philadelphia, PA, 2005-08-12 Online 2008-02-10
“ Existing studies and commentary on transracial placements typically conflate adoptive and racial differences in a rush to pass judgment on its appropriateness. Returning to H. David Kirk’s theory of adoption as a “shared fate” ([1964] 1984), we conceptualize racial difference as an aggravating factor on the more proximate stigma of being labeled a nontraditional family. Using semi-structured interviews, we map how White adoptive parents dealt with differences to Kirk’s analytic categories and explore whether their management of racial difference followed from their management of adoptive difference. We conclude by discussing how race accounts for the empirical deviations from Kirk’s model and the implications for further research.”
A NEW STUDY:
“A study by Amanda L. Baden, Ph.D. (website www.transracialadoption.net) is being launched, and will include not only black/white transracial adoption, but any transracial adoption including Asian and other ethnicities. "The study referred to focuses on gaining a better understanding of the unique experiences of transracial adoptees who are now young adults. To participate in the study, I ask that you complete some brief questionnaires. Your participation will contribute to our understanding of transracial adoption, and I need your help." Dr Baden has a website where people can ask ethnically Chinese teenage girls questions about their transracial adoptions. The address is:”
Teenquestions@transracialadoption.net
THE ROLE OF THE SOCIAL WORKER
Armed with this information and the law, social workers have the Opportunity to effect wide reaching changes in this area. With the changes in federal regulations social workers now have the ability to truly advocate for a child's best interests irregardless of racial issues. Although institutional biases remain, social workers are in a unique position to address this issue at a micro level. We influence prospective parents in both our overt verbal communications, as well as what we don't say. With this type of controversial topic, our wording can make the difference between an individuals viewing all children as adoptable, or interpreting some as having insurmountable troubles, making a successful adoption appear unlikely.
Working in this field requires a commitment to continually examine our own biases and how they can potentially effect the adoption process. It would be easy to say that as social workers, we have no biases against others, however this would not be an accurate self evaluation. Biases, also thought of in some circles as preferences, exist in many arenas. The goal is not to eliminate your biases, but to be aware of them, not passing these on to the individuals we work with on a day to day basis. We have a responsibility to not only allow, but encourage our clients, whether they be adults or children to make their own decisions. If there is even the perception of a bias in any direction, out clients are less likely to be open about their own preferences. Only an atmosphere which is clearly non-judgemental will facilitate this openness. In the area of adoption this is especially important.
RESOURCES AND SOURCES FOR THE ABOVE
National or State Information Child Abuse and Neglect
This URL leads to a search engine that indexes state-specific child maltreatment laws and definitions: http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/general/statespecific/index.cfm
Child Maltreatment Reports Child Maltreatment Reports
WEB: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/publications/cmreports.htm
Published annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, these reports contain national- and state-level data on reports, victims, perpetrators, fatalities, and services. The annual reports are derived from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), which contains data collected and reported by states to the federal government. Though variations exist because of differences in state definitional and reporting standards and in data collection practices, the federal reports provide an authoritative source of national data on child abuse and neglect.
Child Trends DataBank
WEB: http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org
This is a continuously updated online resource providing information on more than 80 indicators of child and youth wellbeing. Child maltreatment is one of the indicators that the DataBank tracks. Also posted on the site is a data brief titled “Violence in the Lives of Children,” which includes a brief section on child abuse and neglect.
Adoption & Foster Care Resources on the Web
AdoptUsKids publications in the Answering the Call series (download online at adoptuskids.org):
• Recruitment Work Plan Guide for Adoption and Foster Care Program Mangers (2003)
• Practitioner’s Guide: Getting More Parents for Children From Your Recruitment Efforts (2003)
• Family Pocket Guide (for families entering the adoption and foster care process) (2003) Available in
English and Spanish
• Lasting Impressions: A Guide for Photolisting Children (2004)
• Finding Common Ground: A Guide for Child Welfare Agencies Working with Communities of Faith (2004)
• Finding a Fit that Will Last a Lifetime: A Guide to Connecting Adoptive Families with Waiting Children (2006)
• Dollars and Sense: A Guide to Achieving Adoptions Through Public-Private Contracting
Adoption Exchange Association
www.adoptea.org
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/
Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) Statistics
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/publications/afcars
Child Welfare Information Gateway
www.childwelfare.gov
National Child Welfare Resource Center for Adoption
www.nrcadoption.org
National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice & Permanency Planning
www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp
North American Council on Adoptable Children
www.nacac.org
National Indian Child Welfare Association
www.nicwa.org
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
http://www.aecf.org/
Juvenile Law Center Information of Dependent Youth in Pennsylvania and some US laws.
http://www.jlc.org
Asia: http://www.comeunity.com and Adoptive Parents of Vietnam Newsgroup (APV)
Korea: http://www.adoptkorea.com and http://www.friendsofkorea.org
Cambodia: http://www.famcam.org/index.html
India: http://www.ichild.org
Vietnam: http://www.fcvn.org and http://www.adoptvietnam.org
Thailand: http://www.neiu.edu/~rghiggin/Thaiadopt/start.html
Eastern European: http://www.eeadopt.org
Russia & Ukraine: http://www.frua.org
China: http://www.fwcc.org
National Foster Parent Association (NFPA)
WEB: http://www.nfpainc.org
PHONE: 253.853.4000 (In the state of Washington)
TOLL-FREE: 800.557.5238
NFPA provides support for and advocacy on behalf of the nation’s foster parents and brings together foster parents and representatives from agencies and communities who are concerned with improving the foster care system and enhancing the lives of children and families. The organization also provides information on how to become a foster parent.
National Child Welfare Resource Center for Adoption (NCWRCA)
http://www.nrcadoption.org/
American Public Human Services Association
http://Aphsa.org
Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance
http://aaicama.aphsa.org/
Child Welfare League of America
http://www.cwla.org
Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children
http://icpc.aphsa.org
Child Welfare Information Gateway
http://childwelfare.gov
National Indian Child Welfare Association
http://www.nicwa.org
North American Council on Adoptable Children
http://www.nacac.org
Permanency Planning Dept. of the National Council of Juvenile & Family Court Judges
http://pppncjfcj.org//html/hot_links.html
Spaulding for Children
http://www.spaulding.org
Foster Care National Statistics
WEB: http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/pubs/factsheets/foster.cfm
PHONE: 800.394.3366 (General number)
Demographics of Children in Foster Care
WEB: http://pewfostercare.org/research/docs/Demographics0903.pdf
PHONE: 202.687.0697
Kinship (Relative) Care
WEB: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/900661.pdf
http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/310893_snapshots3_no14.pdf
Adoption Resource center
http://www.familyhelper.net/arc/trans.html
Roadmap of the Child Welfare Process
Navigating the child welfare system can be a major challenge. The following document outlines what happens to children as they travel through the child welfare system. Flow charts, statistics, and references are provided:
“How Does the Child Welfare System Work?”
WEB: http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/pubs/factsheets/cpswork.cfm
PHONE: 800.394.3366 (General number)
Advocacy Organizations
Children’s Defense Fund
WEB: http://www.childrensdefense.org
PHONE: 202.628.8787 (General number)
This well-known private, nonprofit children’s advocacy organization seeks to educate the nation about the mental, physical, spiritual, educational, and economic needs of children, especially poor children, minority children, and children with disabilities. Its also strives to encourage preventive investments to ward off threats to children’s well-being.
Children’s Rights, Inc.
WEB: http://www.childrensrights.org/
PHONE: 212.683.2210 (General number)
Children’s Rights is a national organization that works to promote and protect the rights of abused and neglected children by pressuring “failing” foster care systems to reform their policies and operations. Toward this end, the group uses policy analysis, public education, and the power of the courts.
Child Welfare League of America (CWLA)
WEB: http://www.cwla.org/
CWLA is the nation’s oldest child welfare organization. It is also the largest membership-based organization in the field, encompassing nearly 1,200 public and private nonprofit agencies that assist more than 3.5 million abused and neglected children and their families each year with services. CWLA seeks to engage the public in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting children and youth from harm.
Heritage Foundation
WEB: http://www.heritage.org/
This research and educational institution — or “think tank” — formulates and promotes conservative public policies, drawing on principles of free enterprise, limited government, a strong national defense, individual freedom, and traditional American values. Child abuse is one of the social issues that it has addressed through its publications, lectures, and congressional testimony.
National Coalition for Child Protection Reform
(NCCPR)
WEB: http://www.nccpr.org/index.html
PHONE: 703.212.2006 (General number)
As indicated by its name, this organization of professionals in the child welfare field advocates for systemic reform in the child welfare system. NCCPR focuses specifically on changing child abuse, foster care, and family preservation policies to make them more responsive to the needs of vulnerable children.
Prevent Child Abuse America
WEB: http://www.preventchildabuse.org/
PHONE: 312.663.3520 (General number)
This private, nonprofit organization works to build awareness about how child abuse and neglect can be prevented and provides leadership to promote and implement local and national prevention efforts. It has chapters in 39 states and the District of Columbia.
Legal Issues
American Bar Association (ABA) Center on Children and the Law
WEB: http://www.abanet.org/child/home.html
PHONE: 312.988.6171 (In Chicago)
202.662.1090 (In Washington, D.C.)
(Both numbers are for the Media Relations Division)
This center, a program of the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division, provides technical assistance, training, and research that address law and court-related topics affecting children. Among these topics are child abuse and neglect, and foster and kinship care.
National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information “Legal Issues and Laws”
WEB: http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/general/legal/index.cfm
PHONE: 800.394.3366 (General number)
This URL provides access to information on federal legislation, state statutes, and legal resources related to child welfare.
Federal: Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSR)
WEB: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/cwrp/staterpt/index.htm
Reviews of state child welfare agencies are conducted and administered by the Children’s Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. State programs are determined to be in substantial conformity with federal requirements on the basis of measurements of child outcomes in the areas of safety, permanency and well-being. (Such measurements are based on the requirements set forth in the Adoption and Safe Families Act).
Program Improvement Plans (PIPs)
WEB: http://www.cssp.org/uploadFiles/2515_CSSP_FINAL.pdf
PHONE: 202.371.1565 (General number for Center for the Study of Social Policy, or CSSP)
If the Administration for Children and Families of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services finds that states are not in substantial conformity in their Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSR), those states must develop Program Improvement Plans (PIPs). All PIPs, once approved, are maintained electronically at the Clearinghouse and are available upon request at 800.394.3366 or www.nccanch@caliber.com See also, Improving the Performance and Outcomes of Child Welfare through State Program Improvement Plans (PIPs): The Real opportunity of the Child and Family Services Review for background information and for five state case studies.
The 2003 Green Book
WEB: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/dis/tables/sec11gb/
(This URL links to Section 11: Child Protection, Foster Care, & Adoption Assistance.)
The 2003 publication of the House Committee on Ways and Means presents background information and statistics on major entitlement programs and major social programs. It is available at http://waysandmeans.house.gov/Documents.asp?section=813
Center for the Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
WEB: http://www.clasp.org/
PHONE: 202.906.8013
CLASP is a national nonprofit organization that provides technical assistance and conducts research, policy analysis, and advocacy on issues related to economic security for low-income families with children.
State Human Service Agency Information and Links
WEB: http://www.aphsa.org/links/statecontacts.asp
PHONE: 202.682.0100 (In Washington, D.C.)
Race, Racism and the Law
http://academic.udayton.edu/race/index.htm
General Information on Children’s Issues
NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSES
National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information (NCCAN)
WEB: http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/
PHONE: 800.394.3366
National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare
WEB: http://www.ncsacw.samhsa.gov
National Adoption Information Clearinghouse
WEB: http://naic.acf.hhs.gov
EMAIL: naic@caliber.com
PHONE: 703.352.3488 (In Virginia); 888.251.0075 (toll-free)
National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth
WEB: http://www.ncfy.com/
PHONE: 301.608.8098 (In Maryland)
American Public Human Services Association (APHSA)
WEB: http://www.aphsa.org/
PHONE: 202.682.0100
APHSA is a nonprofit, bipartisan organization of individuals and agencies concerned with human services. Members include all state and many territorial human service agencies, more than 1,200 local agencies, and several thousand individuals who work in or otherwise have an interest in human service programs. APHSA educates the members of Congress, the media, and the broader public on what is happening in the states concerning welfare, child welfare, health care reform, and other issues involving families and the elderly.
Board on Children, Youth, and Families (BOCYF)
WEB: http://www7.nationalacademies.org/bocyf/
PHONE: 202.334.1230
BOCYF is part of the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine. It provides studies on a variety of policy-relevant issues related to the health and development of children, youth, and families by convening experts who weigh in on matters from the perspective of the behavioral, social, and health sciences.
Child Welfare
WEB: http://www.childwelfare.com/
PHONE: 213.743.2429. This gateway site provides information and links to state-based data sources on adoption, foster care, child protective service reports, and more.
Children and Family Research Center
WEB: http://cfrcwww.social.uiuc.edu/
The center conducts and supports research that contributes to keeping children safe, ensuring permanent homes for children, and supporting child and family well-being.
Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics
WEB: http://www.childstats.gov/
This site provides access to federal and state statistics and reports on children and their families with information about population and family characteristics, economic security, education, health, behavior, and social environment.
Future of Children
WEB: http://www.futureofchildren.org/
PHONE: 650.917.7110
This site presents special issues of the journal on Protecting Children from Abuse and Neglect (Volume 8, Number 1, Spring 1998), and on Children, Families, and Foster Care (Volume 13, Number 2, Fall 2003).
North American Resource Center for Child Welfare (NARCCW)
WEB: http://www.ihs-trainet.com/Pages/CCWP.html
PHONE: 614.252.0725 (In Columbus, Ohio)
NARCCW is an education and research center with a mission to promote “best practices” through the formulation and dissemination of policy addressing the most important, difficult, and controversial practice issues and dilemmas in child welfare.
The Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care
WEB: http://pewfostercare.org/
PHONE: 202.687.0948 (In Washington, D.C.)
This two-year Commission is charged with making recommendations to improve federal foster care financing mechanisms and to improve court oversight of child welfare cases. A final report with recommendations is expected in 2004.
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption; Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute; Harris
Interactive, Inc. “National Adoption Attitudes Survey.” June, 2002.
http://www.davethomasfoundationforadoption.org/html/resource/Adoption_Attitudes.pdf
MEPA Compliance
An Internal Evaluation Instrument has been developed by The Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau (ACF) and Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The instrument provides a process by which States and agencies may voluntarily review programs, policies, procedures and practices for compliance with the Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994, and the Interethnic Adoption Provisions of the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 (MEPA?Section1808).
http://www.acf.hhs.gov./programs/cb/initiatives/mepaeval.htm
Administration for Children and Families
The Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003, Public Law 108-36 reauthorizes and amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) through Fiscal Year 2008. The amendments revise, redesignate and add several purposes for the CAPTA State Grant. Eligibility for requirements for CAPTA has been amended.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/laws/im/im0304.htm#backnoteone
America’s Children Report
WEB: http://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/
This report examines child well-being, including indicators of economic security, health status, education, behavior, and social environment.
Trends in the Well-Being of America’s Children
and Youth
WEB: http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/hsp/02trends/
This volume presents the most recent and reliable estimates on more than 80 indicators of well-being. Its intent is to provide the policy community, the media, and all interested citizens with an accessible overview of data describing the condition of children in the United States.
KIDS COUNT
WEB: http://www.aecf.org/kidscount/
PHONE: 410.547.6600 (General number for Annie E. Casey
Foundation; ask for KIDS COUNT project.)
KIDS COUNT is a national and state-by-state project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. It tracks the status of children in the United States. At the national level, its principal activity is the publication of the annual KIDS COUNT Data Book, which uses “the best available data to measure the educational, social, economic, and physical well-being of children state by state.” The Foundation also funds a national network of state-level KIDS COUNT projects to provide a more detailed county-by-county picture of the condition of children. The first national data book was published in 1990.
National Black Child Development Institute
(NBCDI)
WEB: http://www.nbcdi.org
PHONE: 202.833.2220 (In Washington, D.C.)
TOLL-FREE: 800.556.2234
NBCDI is a nonprofit organization that provides and supports programs, workshops, and resources for African American children, their families, and communities. In keeping with its mission to improve and protect the lives of children, the organization focuses particular attention on the areas of early health and education, health, elementary and secondary education, child welfare, and parenting.
National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA)
WEB: http://www.nicwa.org
NICWA is a national, private nonprofit organization that develops, provides, and disseminates information on American Indian child welfare and efforts to improve the well-being of American Indian children and their families. The organization’s services include facilitating child abuse prevention efforts in tribal communities.
Parents Anonymous® Inc.
WEB: http://www.parentsanonymous.org
Parents Anonymous® Inc. is a national child abuse prevention organization. It may be best known for the parent support groups that it sponsors, which seek to strengthen families and to improve outcomes for children who may be at risk for child abuse.
Stop It Now
WEB: http://www.stopitnow.org
TOLL-FREE: 188.8PR.VENT
Stop It Now is a nonprofit organization that seeks “to help end the sexual abuse of children within our generation.” Accordingly, the organization has launched a campaign to encourage sex abusers or potential abusers to seek help and to get family members of abusers or potential abusers to confront inappropriate sexual conduct within their families.
http://www.aoa.gov/minorityaccess/guidbook2001/intro.html
A guidebook produced by the U.S. Administration on Aging (2001) designed for use by providers who serve older racially and ethnically diverse populations. However, it is only an introduction and not intended to substitute for more rigorous and on-going study.
http://www.healthlaw.org/pubs/19980131lingaccess.html
This document is an overview of the issue of linguistically appropriate health care services to people of limited English proficiency. It discusses the magnitude of the problem and its implications on the health care system and the clients it serves. It also discusses the various legislation which require some form of bilingual service provision in various aspects of the health care system.
http://www.childtrends.org/PDF/Hispanicfactsheet2.pdf PDF; Requires Acrobat Reader
A summary on the key data for Hispanics in the US from the latest census.
http://www.air.org/cecp/cultural/default.htm
The Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice compiled this comprehensive web page on cultural competence and its importance in the human service and child welfare fields.
http://academic.udayton.edu/race/index.htm
Race, Racism and the Law considers race, racism and racial distinctions in the law; It examines the role of domestic and international law in promoting and/or alleviating racism. The site includes statutes, cases, and excerpts of law review articles, annotated bibliographies and other documents related to race and racism.
http://www.searac.org
This site contains information produced by the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC). A national non-profit organization that serves as a voice and resource for the Southeast Asian community (Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese) in the United States.
Projections of the Number of Households and Families in the United States: 1995 to 2010. U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, P25-1129, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1996. http://www.census.gov/prod/1/pop/p25-1129.pdf
Fields, Jason. 2003. Children’s Living Arrangements and Characteristics: March 2002.
Current Population Reports, P20-547. U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, D.C.
http://landview.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/p20-547.pdf
Garland, Rose. “Teens Need Families Too.” The Roundtable, a journal of the National
Resource Center for Special Needs Adoption, Southfield, MI, Vol. 16, No. 2, 2002.
http://www.nrcadoption.org/resources/roundtable/V16N2.pdf
National Commission on Family Foster Care. A Blueprint for Fostering Infants, Children, and Youths in
the 1990s. Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of America, Inc., 1991.
North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) website. National Adoption
Awareness Month, “History of National Adoption Month.”
http://www.nacac.org/resources_adoptionmonth.html
O’Brien, Pat. “Non-Traditional Recruitment for Teens and Pre-Teens,” Adoptalk Fall 1996.
Published by the North American Council on Adoptable Children, 970 Raymond
Avenue, Suite 106, St. Paul, MN. http://www.nacac.org/adoptalk_articles/gotta_believe.html
Schooler, Jayme. “Building a Program So Families Come, Stay...and Recruit Others: Keys to Retention.” Recruiting News October 2000. Published by the North American Council on Adoptable Children, St. Paul, MN. http://www.nacac.org/pdfs/retention.pdf
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau, “The AFCARS Report.” Preliminary Estimates for FY 2005 as of September 2006 (13). www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/tar/ report13.htm
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, “Exemplary Title IV-B Recruitment Plan Elements,” 2001. http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/laws/pi/pi9523a3.htm
Articles and books
Children's Voice article, Adultism and Cultural Competence www.cwla.org/articles/cv0301adultism.htm
Adoption and Race: Articles on race and identity, family fit , bias. PACT, San Francisco
www.pactadopt.org/press/articles
Ask the Experts, www.nysccc.org/T-Rarts/askme.html Answers to parents' questions about transracial adoption, race and heritage. New York State Citizens' Coalition for Children.
Growing Up in a Multiracial Family: My Concept of Self, www.bcadoption.com/articles.asp
Becoming a Multi-Ethnic Family, www.library.adoption.com
Hair: Hair and Skin Care for Kids: A guide for parents of black and bi-racial children, Tips and tricks; brushes, combs, braids. Theresa Brodie, AFABC www.bcadoption.com/articles.asp
Care for curly hair (biracial and black children). Instructional DVD. www.tariacurlz.com
Interracial Families - Multi-Cultural Parenting, www.adoption.about.com/od/interracialfamilies
Articles on transracial adoption, keeping ties to heritage and culture. www.About.com
National Center on Permanency for African American Children, Howard University, Washington DC. www.howard.edu/schoolsocialwork/SW/PermanencyCenter.htm
Raising Children of a Different Heritage, www.bcadoption.com/articles.asp
Raising Inter-Racial Children: Some Helpful Strategies, www.adoption.on.ca/raisingirc.html
Adoption Council of Ontario, 1998. Scratch Back Club, For parents of black children. Toronto, 1993-2000.
www.geocities.com/sbcjune93
Selected Articles on Transracial/Transcultural Adoption, Many articles; adoptees' stories; siblings' stories; parents' stories. New York State Citizens' Coalition for Children. www.nysccc.org/T-Rarts/T-Rarts.html
STARS (Sharing Transracial Adoption Resources and Support), Support for parents raising children of different races and cultures. Theresa Alden, Lancaster PA www.starsfamily.org
Thoughts of a Korean Adoptee, www.adoption.on.ca/koreanadopt.html Adoption Council of Ontario.
Transracial Adoptees' Bill of Rights, www.adoption.on.ca/tabor.html Every child is entitled to... Adoption Council of Ontario.
Raising a child of different ethnicity. www.perspectivespress.com/insidetransracial.html
Adoption experts tackle Culture and Heritage, Stereotypes, Family Life, School Days, Racism, Dealing with Professionals. www.bcadoption.com/site_page.asp?pageid=36
BOOKS
Adoptive Families Assn. of B.C. Everyday Acts Against Racism: Raising Children in a Multicultural World. Vancouver: Adoptive Families Association of British Columbia. Mothers and teachers suggest practical ways to end racial divisions.
Babb, Anne and Rita Laws. Transracial Adoption in their Adopting and Advocating for the Special Needs Child: a Guide for Parents and Professionals. Westport, Conn.: Bergin & Garvey, 1997. Authors are adoption professionals, long-time support volunteers, child advocates, and mothers of a total of 21 children, 13 of them adopted children with special needs.
Bartholet, Elizabeth. Family Bonds: Adoption and the Politics of Parenting. Boston, Houghton Mifflin, 1993. Adoption stigma, racism and how the adoption system creates barriers to adoption.
Fancott, Harriet, ed. Raising Healthy Multiracial Adoptive Families: a Question and Answer Guide for Adoptive Parents. Surrey, B.C.: Adoptive Families Association of British Columbia, AFABC, 2006.
Hollinger, J.H. and ABA Center on Children and the Law National Resource Center on
Legal and Courts Issues. A guide to the Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994 as amended by the Interethnic Provisions of 1996. Washington, DC: American Bar Association. 1998.
Mahoney, Jim. Racism Issues and Multicultural Families: Attacking racism before it defeats your child
Mathias, Barbara and Mary Ann French. 40 Ways to Raise a Nonracist Child. Vancouver: Adoptive Families Association of British Columbia. A practical tool to help families talk openly about racism.
North American Council on Adoptable Children. Parenting Resource Manual. St. Paul, Minn.: 1998. Designed for parents who are currently parenting a child of a different race, culture or ethnicity, the book features dozens of articles that address the day-to-day realities faced by multiracial families.
Reddy, Maureen. Everyday Acts against Racism: Raising Children in a Multicultural World. Seattle: Seal Press, 1996. Mothers and teachers suggest practical ways to end racial divisions.
Regan, Christine Jones. Carefully Taught, in After the Morning Calm: Reflections of Korean Adoptees, Sunrise Ventures (Bloomfield MI), 1999. www.afterthemorningcalm.com. Adoptee from Korea, on growing up with racism.
Register, Cheri. Are Those Kids Yours? American Families with Children Adopted from Other Countries. New York, Free Press, 1991. From her own experience, and her study of American families, Register emphasizes the life-enhancing aspects of having a dual heritage.
Riable, John. The Significance of Racial Identity in Transracially Adopted Young Adults
Silverman, A.R. (1993). Outcomes of transracial adoption. The Future of Children, 3(1),
104-118.
Spalding, Donna Gillis. Roots, Wings and Other Things: A Mothers True Story Of Transracial Adoptions. Rain Publishing, www.rainbooks.com, Burlington ON, 2006. Raising an interracial family that works , in Canada.
Steinberg, Gail and Beth Hall. Inside Transracial Adoption: Strength-based, Culture-sensitizing Parenting Strategies for Intercountry or Domestic Families That Don't Match. Indianapolis, IN: Perspectives Press, 2000.
Wiedemeier Bower, Jeanette. Transracial Parenting Project: Self Awareness Tool. From NACAC's transracial parenting project, a manual to help you decide if adopting a child from another race or culture is for you.
